Collaborating for Social Impact

about us

EVERYTHING WE DO AT BUSINESS FIGHTS POVERTY IS DRIVEN BY A BELIEF IN THE POWER OF PURPOSEFUL COLLABORATION - THE SIMPLE IDEA THAT WHEN YOU BRING TOGETHER THE RIGHT PEOPLE AROUND A SHARED CHALLENGE, WITH A FOCUS ON DELIVERING A VALUABLE OUTPUT IN A CLEAR TIMEFRAME, YOU CREATE THE SPACE FOR GENERATING POWERFUL INSIGHTS AND DEEPER RELATIONSHIPS.

Since we started on our journey in 2005, we have learnt a great deal about collaboration. Most important is the understanding of the huge potential that lies in connecting practitioners and experts across sectors, organisations and geographies. We are grateful for the engagement of our network of over 20,000 professionals and close to 100 content partners.

We encourage you to get involved - whether that is sharing your insights and stories through an article for our website, creating a community profile to help others connect with you, joining one of our monthly online discussions, attending one of our many in-person gatherings, or joining one our collaborative Challenges.

Our Challenge approach brings together people from across our community and beyond who are passionate about tackling specific societal issues. Each Challenge starts by convening the best people from (and beyond) our global network; co-creating a solution through an interactive process of engagement and analysis that leads to a valuable output within a clear timeframe of 3 to 9 months; and communicating the outputs in a targeted way. We have run nearly 20 Challenges in the last couple of years on a wide variety of topics ranging from farmer livelihoods to corporate social innovation, from advocacy partnerships to scaling inclusive distribution models.

If you work for a university, think tank or NGO, please consider joining us as a Content Partner. If you are looking to showcase the work you are doing or share your ideas with the business and sustainable development community, becoming a Content Partner is a unique opportunity to build a meaningful conversation with our audience of professionals.

If you work for a company, please get in touch to see whether we can help you access fresh solutions to complex implementation challenges, build meaningful relationships with peers and stakeholders, or develop new stand-out, thought leadership on a priority issue. We are grateful to our many supporters and partners.

We are proud to be an award-winning B Corp, reflecting the values that sit at the heart of our organisation.

"Accelerating progress towards the world envisioned in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and defending the progress already made, means we must collaborate more deeply, more effectively and more urgently than ever.

“Across the world, individual entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs within large companies are developing innovative new products, services, technologies and business models that are reshaping the opportunities to combine commercial success with social impact.

“Working together, connecting these individual efforts and harnessing our collective intelligence in a action-focused and agile way, offers the prospect of transformative change.

“We believe in the power of purposeful collaboration. Join us today!”

Zahid and Yvette Torres-Rahman, Co-Founders

our team

Zahid Torres-Rahman

Co-Founder & CEOSpain

Zahid has over 20 years’ experience in business and international development, including at PwC and HM Treasury, and is a Founder of Inspiris, a certified BCorp.

Yvette Torres-Rahman

Co-Founder & CFOSpain

Yvette has over 20 years’ experience in marketing and brand management, including at GlaxoSmithKline, and is a Founder of Inspiris, a certified BCorp.

Katie Hyson

Director, Thought LeadershipUK

Katie has over 10 years' experience within multi-national businesses developing sustainability and shared value, including Barclays and O2

Diana Pallais

Diana’s track record of work in international business includes leading business units and market expansion initiatives for technology and development organisations.

Maria Sipka

Co-Founder and President, Linqia USA

Maria is a serial entrepreneur. Prior to Linqia, Maria was COO at XING, Europe’s leading business social network, focused on monetization and member acquisition.

Simon Maxwell CBE

Development Economist UK

Simon worked for 15 years at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. In 1997, Simon became Director of the Overseas Development Institute, where he is now a Senior Research Associate.

join our team

Are you interested in joining our team to help identify and deliver Challenges to harness and scale the positive impact of business on people and planet?

Do you have at least 10 years’ experience, including working for or partnering with business? Do you have strong project management and interpersonal skills? Are you a self-starter with an energetic and positive outlook?

We are interested in hearing from individuals looking for part-time, freelance opportunities.Click here to register your interest and we’ll let you know when something relevant comes up.

Business Fights Poverty is a UK Founding B Corp.

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